Chapter Summaries

Ma Hongshan’s attack injured Song Qingming’s linked Natal Magic Treasure, but Song and Jin Ziyuan continued pursuing the Ma Family members. After Chen Xuanxin destroyed a Nine Yuan Sect Flying Boat and the Carefree Sect surrounded Ma Hongshan and Ma Qiudie, Ma Hongshan unleashed a dangerous Crimson Bird to help Ma Qiudie escape, leaving the battle unresolved.

• Ma Hongshan’s Grade 3 Mid-grade spirit talisman pierced Song Qingming’s Five-Colored Divine Light Mirror before Song blocked the strike with a defensive talisman and continued the chase with Jin Ziyuan.
• Ma Hongshan and Ma Qiudie reached Chen Xuanxin and Zhao Menglian as they attacked two Nine Yuan Sect Flying Boats, but Zhao stopped the Ma Family members while Chen destroyed one boat and killed most of its occupants.
• Song Qingming and Jin Ziyuan caught up, and Jin’s Heart-Shaking Technique helped Zhao Menglian ensnare Ma Qiudie as the Carefree Sect cultivators turned the fight against the two Ma Family members.
• Ma Hongshan gave Ma Qiudie a Storage Bag and unleashed his Crimson Bird’s flames to cover her escape, then used the creature to block Song Qingming and Jin Ziyuan as she fled north with an Ice Heart Talisman.

Song Qingming, Zhao Menglian, and Jin Ziyuan defeated Ma Hongshan after he exhausted himself defending Ma Qiudie's escape, but Ma Qiudie got away. Chen Xuanxin failed to stop the Nine Yuan Sect’s Flying Boat, and the sect’s cultivators withdrew into Yue State as Li Mufeng’s group returned to regroup.

• Ma Hongshan used the crimson giant bird to prevent Song Qingming from pursuing Ma Qiudie, who escaped beyond the horizon.
• Zhao Menglian and Jin Ziyuan pressed their attack as Ma Hongshan ran out of Mana; he feigned a Golden Core self-destruction by destroying his Natal Magic Treasure, then fled.
• Zhao Menglian caught and killed the weakened Ma Hongshan, and Jin Ziyuan took his head as proof of the victory.
• Song Qingming, Zhao Menglian, and Jin Ziyuan met Chen Xuanxin, who reported that a Golden Core Fifth Layer cultivator had stopped him from reaching the Nine Yuan Sect’s Flying Boat.
• The four decided not to pursue the Flying Boat and turned back, while Wu Jiuyuan led the Nine Yuan Sect cultivators west into Yue State and Li Mufeng’s group returned to the battlefield.

The Carefree Sect destroyed the Ma Family’s power in Wei State, rewarded Song Qingming for his role in the campaign, and restored control of Iron Immortal Fortress. After Song Qingming returned to Funiu Mountain to recover from his injuries, Zhang Rong and Lin Yutang arrived with an urgent request for his help.

• Jin Ziyuan presented Ma Hongshan’s head, and the Carefree Sect celebrated the end of the campaign despite Ma Qiudie and some Ma Family cultivators escaping.
• Chu Fengping punished the Ma Family’s accomplices, relocated many of its mortals, and purged loyalist clans, restoring the Carefree Sect’s control over Iron Immortal Fortress and its holdings.
• Li Mufeng rewarded the participating elders, gave Song Qingming and Lu Boyang Grade 3 Low-grade Talismans, and let Song Qingming keep the spoils he had personally seized.
• Li Mufeng rejected an immediate push against the Nine Yuan Sect and delayed taking over Tuoyun Mountain while arranging for formation masters to assess it.
• Song Qingming returned to Funiu Mountain, reassured Song Qingyu and the other elders about his injuries, and entered seclusion to recover his damaged Natal Magic Treasure and injured Corpse Puppet Golden Wind.
• Zhang Rong and Lin Yutang arrived at Funiu Mountain and urgently asked Song Qingming for help, prompting him to leave seclusion.

Zhang Rong and Lin Yutang asked Song Qingming to take over Tuoyun Mountain, whose ruined market and lack of a Core Formation cultivator had left it vulnerable to demonic beasts. Song Qingming initially refused, but Zhang Rong offered Chen Jinliang’s Alchemy and Golden Core cultivation art legacies in exchange for help, leaving Song to reconsider.

• Lin Yutang explained that Tuoyun Mountain was in crisis and offered its Spirit Vein to the Song Family at a discount, but Song Qingming refused to take advantage of their misfortune.
• Song Qingming said the Song Family lacked the resources to manage Tuoyun Mountain and urged the two to seek help from the Carefree Sect.
• Lin Yutang revealed that the Carefree Sect would only help rebuild the market, not take over the mountain, and Song Qingming offered to shelter the two in Qinghe County if they had to abandon it.
• Zhang Rong offered Chen Jinliang’s Alchemy and Golden Core cultivation art legacies in exchange for Song Qingming’s help protecting Tuoyun Mountain.
• Zhang Rong explained that he and Lin Yutang had avoided giving the legacies to the Carefree Sect because its rules would prevent them from passing their master’s inheritance on.

Song Qingming agreed to protect Tuoyun Mountain for ten years and joined the Carefree Sect and Tuoyun Mountain in rebuilding its market. With the market's ownership and funding settled, he announced his protection to the mountain's cultivators and received Chen Jinliang's inherited writings from Zhang Rong.

• Song Qingming agreed to accompany Zhang Rong and Lin Yutang to Mount Guyang and ask the Carefree Sect to support Tuoyun Mountain, offering to guard it for ten years.
• Yao Ganshu initially balked at the sect funding the market, then proposed that Song Qingming's family buy shares to secure the investment.
• Song Qingming agreed to invest about ten thousand Spirit Stones, with the Carefree Sect taking fifty percent of the market, Tuoyun Mountain taking thirty percent, and the Song Family taking twenty percent.
• Song Qingming took Zhang Rong and Lin Yutang to Tuoyun Mountain and announced that he would guard it for ten years while the market was rebuilt with the Carefree Sect.
• Zhang Rong gave Song Qingming Chen Jinliang's copied cultivation technique and alchemy insights after swearing not to sell them to outsiders.

Song Qingming brought the Golden Abyss Art and Chen Jinliang’s alchemy insights back to the Song Family, strengthening its cultivation and craft inheritances. He then returned to Tuoyun Mountain, where he helped rebuild the market and restore the mountain’s population and trade.

• Song Qingming brought the Golden Abyss Art and Chen Jinliang’s alchemy insights to Funiu Mountain and placed their accessible portions in the family Treasury Pavilion under stricter copying rules.
• Song Qingyu began switching to the Golden Abyss Art before attempting to form her core, while Huang Siyuan chose to delay switching until later.
• Song Qingming took Huang Siyuan and more than a dozen Song Family Qi Refining Cultivators back to Tuoyun Mountain and organized a sweep of nearby Demonic Beasts.
• The Carefree Sect sent more than a hundred cultivators and supplies, and the mountain’s cultivators began rebuilding the ruined Tuoyun Mountain Market.
• Over the following half year, Rogue Cultivators returned and the market resumed steady operations, restoring income for the Song Family and the Carefree Sect.

After ten years of recovery on Tuoyun Mountain, Song Qingming set out with Huang Siyuan and Song family members for Wu State to seek cultivation resources. As Chu Fengping’s group flew across Taiyue Lake, they heard a fierce battle ahead and stopped to investigate.

• Song Qingming received Chu Fengping’s invitation to travel to Wu State and arranged for Lin Yutang to oversee Tuoyun Mountain during his absence.
• Song Qingming left Tuoyun Mountain with Huang Siyuan after briefing Lin Yutang and the Song Family cultivators managing the market.
• Song Qingming picked up Song Qingyu and Song Changze at Funiu Mountain, where the Song Family had grown and Song Changze had recently achieved Foundation Establishment.
• Song Qingming’s group met Chu Fengping at Mount Guyang and boarded a Flying Boat toward Wu State to purchase pills and spiritual items.
• After more than half a month flying along Taiyue Lake, Song Qingming and Chu Fengping heard fierce combat ahead and stopped the Flying Boat.

Song Qingming and Chu Fengping rescued Liu Zongping from a Golden Core Demon King near Taiyue Lake, then traveled with him to Seven Stars Market in Wu State. The Song Family group began exploring the prosperous market, while Song Qingming sought cultivation resources and a spirit item to help Song Qingyu form a Golden Core.

• Song Qingming and Chu Fengping spotted Liu Zongping being pursued by a Mid Golden Core Stage Demon King and joined forces to drive it back into Taiyue Lake.
• Liu Zongping thanked the two Carefree Sect cultivators and offered to guide them to Seven Stars Market, where Song Qingming and his companions hoped to buy spirit items.
• Liu Zongping explained that the Demon King had attacked him after he picked a Grade 2 Spirit Medicine on an island in Taiyue Lake.
• Song Qingming and Chu Fengping brought Liu Zongping aboard the Flying Boat, and he guided them through a marketplace's Teleportation Array to Seven Stars Market.
• The Song Family cultivators explored Seven Stars Market and marveled at its abundant, inexpensive spirit medicines and other goods.
• Song Qingming planned to buy cultivation pills and spirit items, including one that could help Song Qingyu form a Golden Core.

Song Qingming and Chu Fengping purchased supplies at Seven Stars Pavilion and exchanged valuable items for Core Formation spiritual items for Song Qingyu and Chu Fengping’s Dao companion. After Gu Yuncong privately questioned Chu Fengping, Chu revealed that Tongtian Tower truly existed, leaving Song Qingming eager to learn more.

• Song Qingming and Chu Fengping visited Seven Stars Pavilion, where Gu Yuncong welcomed them and thanked them for helping Liu Zongping at Taiyue Lake.
• Gu Yuncong explained that Seven Stars Pavilion could exchange Core Formation spiritual items for useful spiritual treasures, and Chu Fengping and Song Qingming offered a Grade 3 Low-grade Pill and a High-grade Spirit Stone.
• Chu Fengping selected Crimson Essence Jade Stone for his Dao companion, while Song Qingming chose Jade True Water for Song Qingyu.
• Gu Yuncong asked Chu Fengping to stay behind and privately questioned him about Tongtian Tower.
• Chu Fengping told Song Qingming that Tongtian Tower was real, not merely a legend.

Song Qingming learned that the Tongtian Tower was a dangerous ancient ruin that appeared every three hundred years, and he suspected an iron plate he had owned for decades was connected to it. After completing their purchases at Seven Stars Market, he and the Carefree Sect group departed for Wei State.

• Chu Fengping explained that the Tongtian Tower was an ancient ruin that appeared briefly at a random location in the Floating Cloud Mountain Range every three hundred years, drawing powerful cultivators and demons.
• Chu Fengping said Li Mufeng would likely bring Bai and possibly Li and Chen into the Tower, while he would remain behind because of his importance to the sect and limited combat ability.
• Song Qingming examined an iron plate and dark ring he had bought decades earlier from Hu Daozhen, noticed the word “Tongtian” on the plate, and suspected it was linked to the Tower.
• Seven Stars Pavilion notified the Carefree Sect that their requested spiritual items were ready, and Liu Zongping thanked Song Qingming and Chu Fengping for rescuing him by giving each a Star Gate spiritual fruit.
• Song Qingming and the others completed their trades, spent more than ten days at Seven Stars Market, and then boarded their Flying Boat to return to Wei State.

After returning to Mount Guyang, Song Qingming learned that Xu Ziyan was undergoing core formation and stayed to witness her succeed. Xu Ziyan became a Golden Core Elder of the Carefree Sect, whose celebration a year later drew congratulations from across Wei State.

• During the journey back, Huang Siyuan and Shi Peier received alchemy and talisman-making guidance, while Song Qingming and Chu Fengping shared cultivation advice with the others.
• As the Flying Boat approached Mount Guyang, Song Qingming and Chu Fengping saw a core formation phenomenon above the mountain and later learned Xu Ziyan had triggered it.
• Xu Ziyan completed the Tempering Golden Core and emerged from her cave abode as a Golden Core Cultivator, receiving congratulations from Yao Ganshu, Song Qingming, and the other elders.
• Xu Ziyan thanked Song Qingming for his past kindness and recalled their early days as Qi Refining Cultivators in the Floating Cloud Mountain Range.
• Li Mufeng ended his seclusion to praise Xu Ziyan, and about a year later the Carefree Sect held a grand core formation celebration attended by nearby sects and cultivation families.

Song Yuanhao secretly rode the Skyfire Roc from Funiu Mountain to hunt demonic beasts, but they encountered a Level 2 Green Bamboo Python and its companions in Yunwu Mountain. Song Yuanhao and the Skyfire Roc fought the group separately, and the chapter ended with a lightning-wreathed flying sword piercing the giant python's eye as it tried to flee.

• Song Yuanhao lured the Skyfire Roc out with food and convinced it to take him beyond Funiu Mountain.
• Song Yuanhao hunted Green Bamboo Pythons near Green Bamboo Mountain, then headed deeper toward Yunwu Mountain in search of stronger prey.
• A Level 2 Green Bamboo Python ambushed Song Yuanhao and the Skyfire Roc, and the Skyfire Roc attacked while Song Yuanhao fought off the smaller pythons.
• Song Yuanhao killed three pythons, then held back several others as the Skyfire Roc battled the giant python.
• The wounded giant python tried to escape, but a lightning-wreathed flying sword struck its eye.

Song Yuanhao secretly left Funiu Mountain with the Skyfire Roc to hunt demonic beasts, was badly injured fighting a Level 2 giant python, and was later reprimanded by his family. After Song Qingming chose not to hold the elders accountable, Song Yuanfang discovered that the Skyfire Roc appeared to be advancing its cultivation.

• Song Yuanhao wounded a Level 2 giant python, but it struck him with its tail and venom before the Skyfire Roc killed it and swallowed its gallbladder.
• Song Yuanhao returned to Funiu Mountain with the Skyfire Roc, where Song Xintang and Song Yuanfang confronted him about leaving without permission.
• Song Yuanfang examined Song Yuanhao's injuries and sent him to recover after reprimanding him for risking his life and worrying the family.
• Song Qingming heard what happened, reminded the family to be more careful, and decided not to hold Song Yuanfang and the others accountable.
• A Song Family cultivator reported that the Skyfire Roc had not touched its food for several days, and Song Yuanfang found it sleeping in its cave and suspected it was breaking through.

Song Qingming returned to Funiu Mountain, where the Skyfire Roc had advanced to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, and reviewed the Song Family’s affairs. He agreed to keep protecting Tuoyun Mountain while considering ways to ease the family’s shortage of cultivators and Spirit Stones.

• The Skyfire Roc emerged from half a year of seclusion after advancing to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, and Song Qingming rewarded the Beast Tamers who cared for it.
• Song Qingming agreed to continue protecting Tuoyun Mountain after Lin Yutang and the others asked to extend their arrangement, though he did not commit to being stationed there long term.
• Song Qingming reviewed the Song Family’s accounts and praised Song Yuanfang and Song Yuanxue, while advising them to delegate minor matters so they could focus on cultivation.
• Song Yuanxue told Song Qingming that Yuan Xi had discovered a productive Mysterious Iron Mine near White Sheep Mountain, but the family lacked the manpower to develop it.
• Song Yuanfang proposed contracting out less important enterprises to nearby subordinate cultivation families to free up Song cultivators and raise Spirit Stones.

Song Qingming approved Song Yuanfang and Song Yuanxue’s plans to improve family operations and promised support for the Yinfeng Ridge mine. Then Shi Long delivered a secret letter from the Fengtou Mountain Wang Family, and Song Qingming sent him and Song Yuanfang back with a reply to invite someone to Funiu Mountain.

• Song Yuanfang proposed contracting out small mineral veins and coordinating shop prices with other Foundation Establishment Families, and Song Qingming approved the plans.
• Song Qingming promised Song Yuanli more help at the Yinfeng Ridge mine and told him to consult Song Qingyu if problems arose while he was away.
• Shi Long arrived with a sealed letter from the Fengtou Mountain Wang Family, which Song Qingming read and put away.
• Song Qingming gave Shi Long a reply and ordered him and Song Yuanfang to take it to the Wang Family and bring back anyone willing to meet him.

Wang Daoyun presented Song Qingming with a rare Golden Marrow Spiritual Fruit on behalf of the Wang Family, hoping to exchange it for a Foundation Establishment Pill. Song Qingming judged the offer and Wang Daoyun’s account of the fruit’s origins, then heard his request without yet agreeing to it.

• Shi Long told Wang Daoyun that Song Yuanfang was waiting below the mountain to escort him to Song Qingming.
• Wang Daoyun retrieved the Golden Marrow Spiritual Fruit from a hidden wooden box and traveled with Song Yuanfang to Funiu Mountain.
• Song Qingming asked Wang Daoyun about his ties to Wang Ziyuan and examined the Level Three fruit the Wang Family offered.
• Wang Daoyun recounted how the family had supposedly found the fruit while hunting in the Floating Cloud Mountain Range, and Song Qingming suspected he was concealing its true origin.
• Song Qingming said he would not take the valuable fruit without compensation and invited Wang Daoyun to state his request.
• Wang Daoyun knelt and asked Song Qingming to exchange the Golden Marrow Spiritual Fruit for a Foundation Establishment Pill.

Song Qingming agreed to exchange a Foundation Establishment Pill for the Wang Family’s Golden Marrow Spiritual Fruit and planned to use the family’s future strength to help defend Qinghe County. At the Carefree Sect’s Merit Pavilion, he sought records about the Tongtian Tower and learned that Chen Xuanxin had the Manual he wanted.

• Wang Daoyun offered Song Qingming a Golden Marrow Spiritual Fruit in exchange for a Foundation Establishment Pill, and Song Qingming agreed.
• Wang Daoyun left the fruit with Song Qingming, then departed Funiu Mountain hopeful that his family could soon establish a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
• Song Qingming told Song Yuanfang to investigate how the Wang Family had acquired the fruit and discussed using their future cultivator to guard against demonic beasts.
• Song Qingming exchanged Merit Points at the Carefree Sect’s Merit Pavilion for a Foundation Establishment Pill and searched for Tongtian Tower records.
• Chen Xuanxin arrived and revealed he had a Tongtian Tower Manual in his Storage Bag, which he arranged to have copied for Song Qingming.

Song Qingming visited Chen Xuanxin to ask about the Tongtian Tower and learned about its dangers, trials, and treasures over drinks. He left without committing to enter, though Chen Xuanxin suggested he could reconsider before it opened in roughly ten years.

• Song Qingming discovered that Chen Xuanxin had the Tongtian Tower Manual and learned Chen expected to enter with Martial Uncle Li.
• Chen Xuanxin advised Song Qingming against risking the Tower soon after forming his Golden Core, and Song asked him to explain the secret realm.
• Song Qingming and Chen Xuanxin shared rare Spirit Wine and discussed its qualities before turning to the Tower.
• Chen Xuanxin explained that the Tower had nine levels, with escalating trials and treasures, and described the dangers posed by cultivators, the Demon Race, and demonic cultivators.
• Chen Xuanxin said the Tower might reappear within ten years and suggested Song Qingming speak with Senior Sister Zhao and Senior Brother Jin if he changed his mind.
• Song Qingming declined to pursue entry for now, thanked Chen Xuanxin, and took his leave.

Song Qingming visited Song Xinyu and the younger Song Family members at the Carefree Sect, then weighed the risks of entering the Tongtian Tower as he returned to Funiu Mountain. Over the following years, the Wang Family became a Foundation Establishment Family, while the declining Lu Family lost Iron Immortal Mountain and scattered.

• Song Qingming found Song Xinyu recovering from meridian injuries after a failed attempt to reach Foundation Establishment Layer 7 and urged him to rest.
• Song Qingming gathered the younger Song Family members at the Carefree Sect, encouraged them to support one another, and gave Song Yuanrong two thousand Spirit Stones toward his Foundation Establishment preparations.
• Song Qingming studied the Tongtian Tower Manual and considered whether to risk entering the tower for a chance to advance toward Nascent Soul.
• Song Qingming sent a Foundation Establishment Pill to the Wang Family, and a year later Wang Huaqing successfully established Foundation Establishment, raising the Wang Family to that status.
• After the Lu Family failed to establish a new cultivator, some members moved near Funiu Mountain while others became Rogue Cultivators, and the Li Family took Iron Immortal Mountain.

Song Qingming returned to Tuoyun Mountain to oversee Song Qingyu’s Core Formation seclusion, then refined a Golden Marrow Spiritual Fruit and learned Huang Siyuan had advanced to Foundation Establishment Layer 9. The chapter ended when a Demon King from the depths of the Floating Cloud Mountain Range attacked, forcing Song Qingming to leave and confront it.

• After Song Qingyu prepared for Core Formation, Song Qingming gave her Thousand Year Spirit Milk and a Spirit Talisman, then yielded his cave abode for her seclusion.
• Song Qingming remained at Tuoyun Mountain to guard Song Qingyu and swallowed the Golden Marrow Spiritual Fruit, reaching the Peak Second Layer of Golden Core after refining it.
• Song Qingming discovered that Huang Siyuan had broken through to Foundation Establishment Layer 9 and joined her for tea.
• A crimson Sound Transmission Talisman alerted Song Qingming that a Demon King had arrived at Tuoyun Mountain.
• Song Qingming told Huang Siyuan to protect Song Qingyu and left to face the Demon King, which was likely from deep within the Floating Cloud Mountain Range.